From Rick McIntosh, OAACE Advocacy Director
To All Teachers, Administrators and Those in Support of Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE): Ohio
HB 1, the state budget bill, has passed the Ohio House and Senate and is now in Conference Committee. Currently the budget is projected to be $3 B short. Difficult decisions need to be made before July 1, 2009. This is a difficult and challenging time for our elected officials. They are going to have to make difficult decisions. With such a large budget deficit, no program is safe. Articles in the Columbus Dispatch and Cleveland Plain Dealer have both confirmed this and added that even if cuts result in a reduction in federal funds they will be considered. I am sure you are as concerned as I am about this.
Now is a time to stand up for ABLE funding and prevent additional cuts that will cripple an already underfunded system. In the latest conference committee report, ABLE will get an additional $225,000 cut while GED would get an additional $535,000 cut . Any additional cuts in ABLE funding will result in cuts in corresponding federal funding which means fewer adults will be able to earn their GED, move on to further education and training. Funding for GED testing has also been cut and we need to advocate for no additional cuts in that funding as well so that our students can have access to the GED test. OAACE is asking you to call your legislators and ask them to prioritize the needs of the poor and most vulnerable citizens in this State .
We are encouraging careful consideration of budget issues related to workforce and economic development and not limiting access to postsecondary education and training by further cutting funding to ABLE. Action Request: We must be heard and we must be heard in numbers. Please make sure you call and tell your colleagues, teachers, family, students, etc to urge your Ohio Representatives and State Senators to prioritize the needs of Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens. Urge them to speak with their colleagues on the conference committee and not include cuts for ABLE and GED.
For information on contacting your Legislators link to: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us Conference Committee Members House: Rep. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron; Rep. Jay Goyal, D-Mansfield; Rep. Ron Amstutz, R-Wooster Senate: Sen. John A. Carey Jr., R-Wellston; Sen. Mark Wagoner, R-Toledo; Sen. Dale Miller, D-Cleveland
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